Pediatric Nursing Demystified

Nursing Intervention

Place the child on droplet isolation if hospitalized.

Report the diagnoses to local health officials according to policy.

Explain the disorder and treatment to the family.

Nursing alert The patient is contagious beginning 1 week before a rash appears

and until 4 days after the rash appears.

Rubeola

What Went Wrong?

Rubeola, commonly called the measles, is a viral infection caused by the rube-

ola virus and is transmitted by airborne droplets or direct contact with contam-

inated items. The incubation period is from 8 to 12 days before the symptoms

appear. The children should be vaccinated for rubeola (MMR) at 12 months

of age.

Signs and Symptoms

Early stage:

• Malaise


• Fever


• Cough


• Lethargy


• Conjunctivitis


• Koplik spots(gray specks with red halos in the buccal mucosa): 2 days
  before the rash appears on the body


• Periorbital edema
  Later stage:


• Red flat rash on the face and spreads to the trunk and extremities
  that disappears in 7 days


• Severe cough


• Swollen glands


• Watery nose (rhinorrhea)

Test Results

No tests

Nursing alert Diagnoses is usually made based on signs and symptoms.

Treatment

Rubeola is self-limiting.

Administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever.

Administer antipruritic medication for itching.

CHAPTER 14/ Infectious and Communicable Conditions^317